Unexpected and scary

Looking back through the posts, votes for supper and weekend away were close to equal, my choice for supper was because I like to control the setting, a weekend away could be anything. Most of all I wanted to get the mood of the evening just right, it was a big step for me after so long I was really frightened of freezing and spoiling it I didn't doubt his intentions given the chance
One post said " why concentrate on bed". For my own confidence I needed prove that I could be his partner and have a close relationship. It's a big step for any widow to change her life, trust a new man to look after her and cherish her but the prospects look good.
He's newly retired with a good pension, he has 2 sons living abroad, no other family in UK and he wants to travel and see the world. I think I can help out with spending his pension and look forward to travel with him starting with a weekend away.
I was given the choice and it will be London, he knows it well I don't, the only certainties are a nice hotel and tickets to Mama Mia I can enjoy it all, no hang ups, no uncertainties.

I hope this update is enough for CrazyH.

Good luck Diana & Greengage enjoy your new relationships and have fun.

Ah, it makes my cynical old heart happy..

Diana54 So happy for you. It sounds like you and I have landed on our feet. Like yours, my relationship is also going from strength to strength. Never expected to be in this position at my age!

How lovely! The promise of happy, happy times ahead.

I'm not only crazy, I'm nosey as well. Give us a progress report ?

That’s lovely Diana, happy days.

Well done Diana and I wish you lots of happiness in the future.

Supper at home worked a treat in fact it turned out to be the most memorable weekend for many many years, my confidence is now complete. As a bonus we had a long leisurely breakfast, when we had a the conversation " what do we both want from a relationship" and we both look forward to happy times together. Interestingly he had been looking for another girlfriend for a while and had met several younger in their 50s but broke off after a couple of dates for various reasons, then it clicked with me!.
You never know what life brings, so thanks to you all for your help and good wishes.

So we found a nice shady spot for our picnic and the boys had gone off to play on the park which left myself and Amy aged 9 3/4 she started the conversation :-
Granny, have you really got a boyfriend
" Who told you that darling"
Oh, I heard mummy and daddy talking about it
" What did mummy say"
She thought it very nice.
"What did daddy say "
I'm not sure but he laughed and mummy threw a cushion at him.

After a pause
Have you got a boyfriend granny
" I have got a nice gentleman who takes me out"
Do you love him.
" I'm not sure yet I've only known him a few weeks"
How do you know when you are in love granny
" its when you care for someone a very great deal" - " now where have those boys got to"

How lovely, how innocent but given the level of sex education they get at school I wasn't going to get led further.

Must remember to tell her mum I won't be available for child minding next weekend!.

I would opt for a hotel and have separate ensuite rooms if possible.

This saves a lot of embarrassment re toilet habits and showering first thing in the morning.

A most positive thread. How exciting. Enjoy yourself.

Diana54 I wish you well in your friendship. For me and my friend, our friendship is the most important thing to both of us and neither of us has wanted to do anything that might cause us to lose the friendship. We can now talk openly about everything which is a really lovely situation to be in. I do hope you and your friend can find a relationship which works well for both of you wherever it may take you.

So pleased for you Diana. I hope it continues to go well.
Sending you my best wishes for your future happiness x

So glad you clarified it all Diana, hope it all goes well and leads to a lifetime of fun x

Great Diana, sounds like it's going really well. Look forward to an update? Very happy for you.

Reading this thread it has struck me that it highlights one of the really good and nice things about Gransnet ...access to lots of experience and wise advice from people who understand possible fears and trepidation!

A lovely evening out rounded off with coffee at home this time and I have invited him to supper next week so fingers crossed.
Back to reality today I have the 3 youngest grandchildren for the day, 2 boys 5 and 7 and a 9 yr old girl who is very sensible and will help a lot, so now deciding where to take them.

Wow Greengage, good for you, how lovely. Just shows, we never know what might happen.

I have in the last month been in this very situation. Widowed for 9 years and aged 70 when we met and he widowed for just 6 months. We have family in common which is how we met. We started by meeting up about once a month and just got on so well. I was 'keen' from the start though very shy. After two years of good friendship he suggested spending a couple of days away, and I said I would like that. He asked several times after that if I was still happy to go away and then eventually said his next question was single or double room. I asked him which he would prefer to which he said 'double' and I said that was fine by me. We had three of the happiest days I could have wished for, and that was just a couple of weeks ago. We both have felt that neutral ground worked best for us. Our relationship couldn't be happier.

Just go for it - I did! No regrets - we are very happily married now.

My mother was widowed at 58 and, though she went out with male friends, had no close relationship until she was in her late 80's. The first time they went away he arranged the hotel and offered to book two rooms, so she had the choice of sharing his room or not - I think this is probably the answer. If you are tense all evening things are not likely to go as well as it could if you know you are in control of the situation.
He did eventually start to stay overnight at her house (she hated his flat) and was always careful to leave later in the morning so that neighbours would not know that he had stayed.
Though a younger woman might not be bothered about what people might think, if you are worried about your reputation there is nothing wrong with being discrete,

Well I wish you all the luck in the world Diana
I think it all sounds very exciting and I believe you are having a second chance of love and happiness.
I and many others envy you.

I didn't give any background, so a quick update now.
I married at 20 then 3 daughters in quick succession so it was a very " girlie" house, now I have 7 grandchildren.
Clothes. I have plenty of everyday stuff but nothing less than 20 yrs old for going out, so I had to borrow an evening dress from my second daughter who is size 12 like me. She decked me out in a simple dark blue sleeveless gown, then took me to the local health spa and her hairdresser. All that took 10 yrs off me I just didn't realise how dowdy I looked before, what was unexpected was the effect on my date, his eyes were on stalks, the usual complements but it was the way he looked at me that was different.
Dancing my tummy wasn't just fluttering, it was sizzling and for a 65 yr old granny that is really scary. Desire is in his eyes - as well as his hands, nothing inappropriate and I haven't encouraged him yet but I don't expect him to ignore the right signals.
Thanks for all your cautionary messages, he's not going to grab me and ravish me and if either of us does freeze after supper the evening will be a disappointment not a disaster and we will both know the score